Smithen will get a framed picture and flowers for his mother, Ingrid, during a pregame ceremony. His father, Lorenzo, and sister, Danielle, will join them on the court.

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Siena vs. Fairfield

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Times Union Center, Albany

TV/radio: My-51, 1300 AM, 98.7 FM

"It's the first time in a long time my sister's going to be at a game,'' Smithen said. "So of course there's going to be those emotions, but once the ball tips off and I'm on the court, it's back to business."

Siena will also honor senior team manager Robert McCarthy.

Smithen, who has a year of athletic eligibility left, is on course to graduate this spring because he's been in college for four years. He played his freshman year at Richmond, sat out one year at Siena as a transfer, then played the past two seasons for the Saints.

Smithen is averaging 4.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game this season and is back in the starting lineup following freshman guard Roman Penn's season-ending heel injury.

"Great kid," Patsos said. "Great human being. Had a little ups and downs as a player, but what's most remarkable about Kadeem is, we hit a real crisis with Roman (Penn) going down. He stepped up and answered the bell, plus some."

Patsos said Smithen could return to play another season, even though Siena doesn't offer graduate courses. He'd have to drop two classes and complete his bachelor's next season.

"Kadeem, I knew he was going to graduate, but now we've had a guy get hurt, a couple of guys leave and he wants to play a lot,'' Patsos said. "Now he's playing a lot. ... He's having fun. He loves the school."

Patsos said he discussed the matter with Smithen two weeks and they decided to table the matter until after the season. Smithen would have the option of transferring to a Division II school in his native Canada to finish his career.

"I don't know, either,'" Patsos said. "There's some things he'd have to do to remain in school. But I did talk to him about it. I said it's his choice. He has my full support."

If Smithen transfers, he would not be unique. There were 689 Division I transfers a year ago, according to the recruiting Web site verbalcommits.com.

Patsos said he has conversations with players during the season about their plans. He said he's tried to get players to stay, but they've gone against his advice.

While Siena has no seniors, Patsos said he should have at least two scholarships available for next year, without elaborating. One was left vacant by the departure of junior guard Nico Clareth at midseason and will go to San Jose (Calif.) guard Jake Wojcik, who has already signed. The Saints have continued hosting recruits on official visits.

"To say you don't have another scholarship right now in April would be naive,'' Patsos said. "Nobody's head is in the guillotine, but it's the nature of the business. The average turnover is three to four players a year."

Siena has another redshirt junior, forward Kevin Degnan, who rarely plays. Degnan, a Fairfield transfer, isn't part of the Senior Night ceremonies.

Patsos pointed out athletic scholarships are renewable after every year, not guaranteed for four seasons. And he said it's a two-way street.

"You turn into a general manager in April because they're going to leave, too,'' Patsos said. "They're going to leave because they're good and they want to go higher, or they didn't get enough playing time and they want to go lower or they want a different situation. It's just proven."